The Old Buddha held Jiang Li in great regard. He did not wish to fight him head‑on. Since Jiang Li was not versed in the Dao of Space, the Old Buddha believed that his Boundless Space could confine him completely.
But unexpectedly, the Boundless Space—capable of trapping even Immortals—was shattered by Jiang Li through a brute and direct method, and far faster than when he had broken the first technique.
Jiang Li knew that if a cultivator of the Mahayana Stage and an Immortal were to fight with all their might, not only Mount Sumeru, but the entire Nine Provinces Continent would collapse and crumble apart.
Thus, after shattering the space of the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm, he also tore open the Nine Provinces’ spatial layers, dragging Old Buddha Sumeru into the void, forcing their battle to take place in the endless emptiness. Old Buddha Sumeru’s golden body gleamed brilliantly, his face serene and compassionate.
One could no longer tell whether it was the subtle profundity of the Buddhist Dharma or the accumulated power of his merit that forged that image. At this point, even the Old Buddha himself could not distinguish it. His Buddhist Six‑Zhang Golden Body had been cultivated to the absolute limit—indestructible and flawless.
By all reason, even an Immortal of the same realm would have to exert great effort to break it. Yet Jiang Li’s Daoist Arts were profound beyond comprehension. Reversing the Divine Ability of Turn Stone to Gold, with a single finger he transformed the Old Buddha into a statue of stone six zhang tall, then crushed it to powder.
Although such a blow would completely annihilate a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, the Old Buddha was already an Immortal; every single grain of dust transformed into another copy of himself. Golden light filled the void, and countless Sumeru Old Buddhas attacked Jiang Li together.
The Dao Sect’s One Qi Transforms Into Three Purities could only form two additional selves—three bodies fighting as one was already the utmost limit. Jiang Li knew it was impossible that there were truly billions of Old Buddhas; at most there were only three true bodies.
He exhaled clouds and mists, turning them into rain that formed countless soldiers—Cloudswallowing Technique combined with Rain‑Forming Soldiers Technique—meeting the swarm of Old Buddhas in battle. It was a variation of the Bean‑Sowing Soldier technique, now manifested as Rain‑Forming Soldiers.
The Dao Sect always welcomed Jiang Li learning any Daoist Arts, for whatever he learned, he would always improve and return it with two more variations. The moment their battle erupted, truth and falsehood were revealed. Jiang Li swiftly identified the three true bodies of Old Buddha Sumeru.
“You know, Jiang Li,” the Old Buddha sighed amidst the fight, Divine Abilities colliding, golden brilliance and Dao light interlacing across the void.
“Your talent terrifies me.”
“I have lived for nine thousand and seven hundred years,” he said slowly.
“In my first seven hundred years, I met Immortals. None of them possessed such power as yours. In the following nine thousand years, I saw heroes and sages unending, yet none could surpass me—except you.”
“Do you know,” his voice grew tremulous, rising with a heavy breath, “each time you lectured on what the Mahayana Stage truly means, on how one might step into enlightenment, I always went to listen—openly or in secret.”
At those words, his aura surged violently. His serene face twisted into torment and rage as he roared, “But I cannot understand! I cannot understand what you’re talking about!
If I could truly comprehend the Mahayana, why would I need to kill?! Why would I need to slaughter?!” Jiang Li also roared back, “What else do you expect me to do?
I have already explained everything clearly enough! How else should I tell you?!” Old Buddha Sumeru blew out a breath of Samadhi True Fire—it landed upon Jiang Li’s body and immediately vanished.
Jiang Li felt his Dao Heart ignite, burning in furious flames—like steel being tempered by a thousand strikes, searingly painful and suffocating. The Samadhi True Fire burned from within the heart, using the Dao Heart as its fuel, consuming flesh and soul alike.
Even if body and soul were reduced to dust, as long as the Dao Heart persisted, the flames would continue to burn upon it. Jiang Li drew upon his Heart Sword, slashing his own heart, the sword intent tearing apart the burning Samadhi flames.
The Old Buddha attempted once again to manifest the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm to trap Jiang Li within endless samsara, but this time Jiang Li was unmoved. He tore free from its cycle directly and struck once more. Both of them were masters of Divine Abilities, yet Jiang Li was still a step higher.
In a brief but cataclysmic exchange, Old Buddha Sumeru was defeated. Jiang Li pressed a fingertip between the Old Buddha’s brows—if the latter made even a slight move, Jiang Li would shatter his Spiritual Platform instantly. The Old Buddha coughed blood unstoppably; that blood shone golden and quivered in the void before bursting apart into light.
He let out a bitter laugh.
“You entered my samsara deliberately, didn’t you? You only wanted to say those words—to let me hear them.”
Jiang Li stayed silent. The Old Buddha coughed twice more, steadying his breath with difficulty.
“You held back against me. The power of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon is equal to mine, yet you slayed them effortlessly. With me, you fought as if evenly matched.”
“Then tell me, after you ascended to Immortality, why didn’t you leave the Nine Provinces, go to another world?”
Having become an Immortal, the storms and spatial turbulence of the void could no longer threaten him. Master of the Dao of Space, leaving for other worlds would have been as easy as turning his palm. Yet he remained.
Stayed upon Mount Sumeru, as if he had been waiting—waiting for Jiang Li’s arrival.
“…Yes… why indeed… I don’t know myself…” he murmured weakly.
“Clearly, if I’d gone elsewhere, you would never have found me… perhaps… I stayed because I thought I wasn’t wrong… because I thought you’d understand… forgive me… after all… I once saved the Nine Provinces…”
After a long silence, Jiang Li finally asked softly, “Who is the Divine Repository Venerable? And where are the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons?” The Old Buddha shook his head.
“Everything you’ve seen within the Divine Repository Cult… that is all I know. The Heavenly Demons only told me that by believing in the Divine Repository Venerable and killing people, I could gain the Power of Merit. The so‑called Doctrine of the Divine Repository—I made that up myself, based on His name. What He truly is… I don’t know… perhaps merely the faith of those Demons…”
“As for the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon…” he pointed at his own throat.
“I was bound by the Hex Refining Seal Curse. I cannot speak of it… even as an Immortal…”
There is but one way to lift the Hex Refining Seal—when the cursed ascends to the same great realm as the caster, the bind naturally breaks.
“…Do you understand…” his voice grew faint, “…that being was one full realm higher than I am… yet all he dared was hiding and scheming in secret… Jiang Li… he’s afraid of you…”
Old Buddha Sumeru was an Earthly Immortal, while the Demon who infiltrated the Nine Provinces was a Heavenly Immortal—and yet that Heavenly Immortal feared a man at merely the Mahayana Stage. The Old Buddha gave a self‑mocking laugh, recalling the Demon’s cautious, thieving demeanor—like a petty burglar creeping in the dark.
Then, remembering his own deeds—founding the Divine Repository Cult behind Jiang Li’s back, secretly amassing the Power of Merit—his smile faded completely. How different was he, really, from that Demon? The Demon had calculated accurately that he would never reveal the matter of Power of Merit to Jiang Li—that was why it spoke to him.
To that Demon, was he merely another wretch afraid of death?
“…”
“…I know you’re investigating who taught Jiang Yixing the Demonic Path…” he said hoarsely.
“…It was that same Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon who slipped into the Nine Provinces…”
“…Have you ever thought, Jiang Li… what truly are the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons…?”
“…Immortal Elder Changcun is lying. He must be hiding something about them…”
“…Maybe you trust him… but I do not…”
“…Jiang Li… you were right… Heaven has changed… the sky itself seeks our destruction… only you can protect the Nine Provinces…”
Old Buddha Sumeru forced his body into a lotus‑seated posture. Hands joined together, he burned his own body into ashes, leaving behind a single, incomplete relic. …Where had things gone wrong? When did Jiang Li start suspecting the Divine Repository Cult…?
Right—it began when I ordered the Heavenly Slaughter Pavilion to assassinate him… why did I do that…? It seems that after he endured his fifteenth Immortal Ascension Tribulation… he began to change… …Is that change good… or… Jiang Li held the incomplete relic in his palm, emotions surging endlessly within.
He did not know what to say. Silently, he returned to the Nine Provinces. Thanks to fellow readers Jiuyuan Ruoshui, Phoenix Courtyard True Bust, When Sun Fell For Snow, 20170622080657499, and Memory of Dragon Yunzhe for their monthly votes.
Also thanks to reader Li Changjing for the reward.
(End of Chapter)